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G. R. YANDELL.

CHAIR.

No. 306,989. Patented 00p. 21, 1884 67147165 Z. l/a/nda 1 .nzw

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PATENT rrrcno CHARLES R. YANDELL, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

CHAIR.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 306,989, dated October 21, 1884. Application filed January 24, 1884. (No model.) i I while their upward extensions support the seat and back, which frames are flexibly attached together above and below said seat, whereby they are free to play or move past each other, and an elastic rocking movement is imparted to the seat, as will be hereinafter more particularly set out.

A chair embodying this invention is shown in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 represents the same by a perspective View, and Fig.2 by a side elevation, Fig. 3 being a front elevation, and Fig. 4 a side elevation showing the chair folded up for con venient handling or shipment.

The primary object attained by this invention is the production of an easy chair, and

this is effected by enabling its seat to have an elastic movement; but it is also capacitated to" fold up, and thus present small dimensions, which adapt it for convenient carriage, snug storage, and compact shipment.

As shown herein, this chair consists of two crossed frames, each composed of two opposite limbs, Y A, the longer of which constitutes the front legs, N, and the supports D for the back, and the shorter of which constitute the rear legs, E, and supports for the arms. The opposite limbs Y Y are connected together to form a frame by cross-rails, as c h a, and the opposite limbs A A are connected by a crossrail, 8, which rails may be wood structures mortised into or otherwise secured to the said limbs. The front and rear legs are attached together near their lower ends or feet by flexible ties, as the straps R, and the supports L and D are attached together by flexible ties, as the straps S. The seat T is attached at its rear corners to the supports D by pivots 1, and at its front to the support L by pivots 8, either or both of which pivots may for strength be long enough to extend through the frames.

The seat as well as the back of the chair may be solid. or framed. Thus both might be of wood perforated, which seat would be strengthened by edge rails, while the back might be madebyfilling the spacebetween the supports D D for a suitable distance. Apreferable mode of constructing the seat as well as the back is to provide a frame-work covered bya fabricas leatherstretched over it; but either or both may be padded or stuffed in the usual way of upholstering such parts of furniture.

The connecting-straps R and S may be of webbing, rubber, or similar material, or even springs, but preferably will be made of stout leather. The straps R are fastened in any approved way to the cross-rail 0, connecting the front legs together, and to the cross-barssimilarly joining the rear legs to each other. The straps S should, as they are more exposed and form-arms, have a more ornamental means of uniting them to the supports L D, and this maybe effected by the use of metal rings 2', into which the straps are looped, which rings are passed through holes out through said supports. Any other mode of connecting these straps to the supports may, however, be adopted but as it may occur from long use that the straps S will become more or less elongated and require taking up, and, further, sinceitis desirable that they may be adjusted in length to permit the back to more or less incline in order to suit the comfort of the user, said straps are provided at one or both ends with free parts adapted to be passed through the holding-loop and secured by a tongue, asis shown in Fig. 1, said strap thus becoming adjustable or shortening or lengthening at will.

It will be observed that the limbs A D,forming the legs and back and seat supports,arenot connected together at the points of their intersection, but are left free to play or move past each other. From this it results that said limbs constituting the crossed frame operate as levers, spreading as the weight of the user is applied to the seat to a degree limited by the elasticity of the straps R S, and that as the weight on the seat is thrown more or less for-. ward or rearward, as willresult from the ordinary movements of the user, the frames will correspondingly move and play freely past each other to an extent controlled and limited by the pliable straps. These movements will consequently enable the chair to act as a rocker, and the straps will cause these movements to be elastic and smooth. The various parts are so connected that the chair may be folded up, as is seen in Fig. 4, the seat having its sides recessed, as at 3, if necessary, so as not to obstruct such folding.

The straps B may be two in number, as shown, or a single wide central strap mightbe employed, or these straps might be three in number. The straps S will, however, necessarily be two in number, as they operate as arms, and must provide a space for the body of the sitter between them.

By making the strapsRor S of greatstrength either set may be dispensed with and the peculiar elastic rocking action be accomplished; but considering the great strain to which a chair is subjected and the necessity for durability, the structure embodying both sets of straps R and S is most desirable.

Vhat is claimed is 1. A. chair consisting of two crossed frames connected together by straps and the seat, which latter is pivoted at one end to one frame and at the other end to the opposite frame,and one of which frames extends above the seat to form the back, substantially as described.

2. A chair consisting of crossed frames elastically connected together above and below the seat T, as by straps R and S, and having the seat pivoted near its rear to one frame and near its front to the other frame, substantially as described.

3. A chair consisting of crossed frames to which the seat is pivoted, which frames are connected together above and below the seat by straps R S, the latter of which is adjustable, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

CHAR-LES R. YANDELL.

Witnesses:

J AS. M. BALDWIN, S. G. ANGLER. 

